November’s Awareness focuses on:
Pancreatic cancer, Lung cancer,
Stomach cancer, Carcinoid cancer & Honoring Caregivers
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Tomorrow! November 3, in recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, MOASC presents a virtual conference on “Recent Advances in Lung Cancer, MOASC News
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Thursday! On November 4, Annual Management Series for Oncology Administration MOASC News
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California has been identified, nationally, as the top state. California News
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Protect MICRA! California News
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Saturday! November 6, Hematologic Malignancies Updates ANCO News
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Thank you for your participation in the virtual presentation on “Treatment of Breast Cancer,” presented by: Reema Batra, MD, Cancer Center Oncology Medical Group;
Kelly Dewitt, MD, Sharp Healthcare; Meera Ravindranathan, MD, Sharp Healthcare.
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MOASC Programs - Save the Dates - All Times are Pacific
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Tomorrow! November 3, in recognition of Lung Cancer Awareness Month, MOASC presents a virtual conference on “Recent Advances in Lung Cancer,” 5:30pm to 7:00pm-PDT.
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This Thursday! On November 4, learn more about what you can do to help your valuable human resource perform at their peak! MOASC invites you to attend the virtual Administration Track 1, 11:45am – 3:15pm of the MOASC Annual Management Series for Oncology Administration & Accounts Receivable Management. Thursday’s topics will include: Prevent Burnout & Employee Fatigue; Time Management: Find an extra hour every day; Create a More Productive Practice with Process Automation; Improve Patient Collections Experience, and Match Patients to Clinical Trials.
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Next Wednesday, November 10 save the date for the virtual Oncology Accounts Receivable Track 2, of the MOASC Annual Management Series for Oncology Administration & Accounts Receivable Management, 11:45am to 3:15pm. Topics will include: 2022 Billing Updates; Overview of Medicare Regulations; Billing tips for Advanced Practice Providers, and How to Increase Revenue.
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Thank you to the following sponsors for supporting access to oncology care: AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Bristol Myers Squibb, Grail, Inc., Oncopeptides, Pfizer Oncology, Takeda Oncology, AbbVie, Astellas, Daiichi Sakyo, Inc., Incyte, Johnson and Johnson, Merck, Novartis, ADC Therapeutics, Agios Pharmaceuticals, Exact Sciences, Foundation Medicine, Gilead, G1 Therapeutics, Guardant Health, Kite Pharma, Lilly Oncology, MorphoSys, Inc., Myovant Sciences, Pharmacyclics, Sanofi-Genzyme, Seagen, Stemline Therapeutics. |
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Here is YOUR chance to make a difference! California has been identified, nationally, as the top state where Congressional influencers are hoping to find examples about how biosimilars have been making an impact in people’s lives. COA is needing local, on-the-ground examples of how biosimilars are helping patients save. COA has received a request from the Biosimilars Forum for testimonials about biosimilar use that can be shared with champions on the Hill. There is significant movement surrounding pro-biosimilars policy, and they see an opportunity to build on that by sharing success stories. The Forum is hoping to find California-specific stories from a constituent’s perspective – something like a patient who switched to a biosimilar and saved money, or a provider who could speak to how their patients are benefitting from having more low-cost treatment options thanks to biosimilars. Contact Nick TODAY with your testimonial!
Nicolas Ferreyros, Director of Communications, Community Oncology Alliance (COA),
The proponents of the “Fairness for Injured Patients Act” (FIPA) have continued to advocate for the trial-attorney-backed-measure that will only limit access to care during the worst possible time by eliminating key MICRA protections. If your organization has not done so already, please take a moment to complete the sign-up form at protectmicra.org/join/ to join the campaign coalition to oppose FIPA. As a reminder, even if you are a member of CAPP you must sign up to formally oppose the initiative. IT WON’T COST MUCH TIME TO SIGN UP, but CERTAINLY WILL COST YOU $$$ should this measure succeed. Protect MICRA!
CMA recently joined the American Medical Association and 28 other medical and specialty societies to express strong concerns over unfair business practices with respect to electronic payments in health care. CMA has for many years urged CMS to clarify and enforce the right of physicians to receive electronic payments via the Automated Clearing House electronic funds transfer (EFT) standard without being forced to pay percentage-based fees for “value-added” services.
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New/Modifications to the POS Codes for Telehealth - R 12427 provides updates to the current Place of Service (POS) code set by revising the description of existing POS code 02 and adding new POS code 10. Make sure your billing staff knows of the updates.
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November 12- Additional Documentation Request (ADR) Prepay A/B. This webinar is intended for Medicare Part A and B Providers and will include: • ADR Inquiry • Prepay Documentation Submission • ADR Decision • Resources.
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In requesting an update on CMS’ efforts to streamline prior authorization protocols across programs, including Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, a bipartisan group of senators pushed CMS to make changes to reduce administrative burden for providers, protect seniors from unnecessary delays in access to treatment. The senators commended the Administration’s commitment to ensuring timely access to health care and are encouraging the administration to take additional steps to strengthen prior authorization policies and make them more efficient for all Americans, including MA beneficiaries.
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A federal court judge ruled the U.S. government acted incorrectly when it warned Eli Lilly and several other drugmakers they would violate the law by ending discounts to the 340B program, which is intended to provide medicines to hospitals and clinics serving mostly low-income populations. Since its inception nearly 30 years ago, the program has ballooned and fed into the national clash over the cost of medicines.
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The national paid family and medical leave policy has reportedly been eliminated from the $1.75 trillion reconciliation package. Several key provisions remain, including closing the Medicaid coverage gap and extending the enhanced advance premium tax credits included in the American Rescue Plan Act, but paid leave is currently out.
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Cleveland Clinic researchers are conducting a study on a vaccine to prevent triple-negative breast cancer, which accounts for 10% to 15% of all breast cancers but tends to be aggressive and poses significant recurrence and death risks. The vaccine would target alpha-lactalbumin, a lactation protein present in most triple-negative breast cancers.
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Affiliate Association News |
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ANCO's Hematologic Malignancies Updates (part III of III), will be November 6, 2021- Hyatt Regency San Francisco Embarcadero. The faculty will present the latest research on treatment modalities for hematologic malignancies—leukemias, lymphomas, and myeloma—along with case studies for these diagnoses. Registration deadline is Thursday, November 4th.
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Four seats on the ANCO Board of Directors are up for election in 2021. ANCO seeks nominations for candidates to stand for election to these seats. This year's election will be conducted via election runner online in December. Candidates with the top four vote totals will serve for three years (i.e., from 2022-2024, inclusive). You may nominate an ANCO member (including yourself) to stand for election to the Board via e-mail to director@anco.org no later than November 15.
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Mortality Risk in Patients with Cancer and SARS-CoV-2 Higher Among Older Patients with B-Cell Malignancies, and Those Who Previously or Currently Smoke, According to New Study published in JCO Oncology Practice found that patients with certain cancers have a higher mortality risk than other cancer types if they have contracted the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). Specifically, older patients with B-cell malignancies who acquire SARS-CoV-2 who are undergoing cancer treatment are at increased risk of death compared to other patients with cancer. Previous or current tobacco users who are undergoing cancer treatment are also at increased risk of death if they test positive for SARS-CoV-2.
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Deadline is November 15th! ASH is asking for your help in developing resources for emerging CAR T-Cell therapy complications and would like to learn more about your experiences with diagnosing and/or treating these complications. ASH is undergoing this active effort within its Subcommittee on Emerging Gene & Cell Therapies. Please complete the survey to tell ASH about any clinical cases that you may have seen that depict either:
- A complicated/unusual reaction experienced by a patient treated with CAR-T therapies.
- A challenging patient referral or unique consideration/approach in bridging to CAR-T therapies.
Information from this survey will inform the Society’s strategy for developing novel and useful resources for investigators and clinicians (both in the research and clinical settings) interested in this field. In addition, we strongly believe that your input is critical to informing future research and clinical practice in these areas with the overall goal of improving outcomes for patients with relapsed/refractory malignancies who are receiving CAR T-cells.
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Reconnect with old friends and make new ones at the 63rd ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition on December 11-14 in Atlanta and virtually. Read more about the various opportunities to connect with participants at the "Welcome Back" Reception, ASH-a-Palooza and Trainee Welcome Reception, Hallway Conversations and ASH Collaboration Rooms.
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Practices with, or pursuing, ACHC or URAC accreditation (or both) fulfill the accreditation requirement of the new Prime Therapeutic IntegratedRx – Oncology Program. The Prime Therapeutic’s new IntegratedRx – Oncology Program, is supposed to help practices in the Prime network fill prescriptions at the point-of-care. The new Prime program is not tied to just one accreditation. Practices have one year from joining the program to get any recognized accreditation, if they don’t already have it. This new Prime program will allow practice pharmacies and dispensing facilities to participate in Prime networks, where they once may not have been able to participate in both Medicare and commercial plans, and provide their patients with oral cancer drugs at the point-of-care. Through the Community Oncology Pharmacy Network (COPA), COA has worked with ACHC since 2016 to offer a trusted, independent, and comprehensive specialty pharmacy and oncology. COA is also working with ASCO on Oncology Medical Home accreditation; and employers on quality standards, clinically integrated networks, and direct contracting for cancer care delivery. These are all part of COA’s long standing commitment to quality cancer care delivery and payment reform.
COA will soon be providing additional information regarding quality metrics and other components of this Prime program and other ongoing initiatives. If you have additional questions or concerns, or need any specific clarification on any of this, please contact any of the COA team.
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Thyroid Carcinoma V3.2021 update has been published to the NCCN Guidelines® and the NCCN Compendium®.
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Oncopeptides announced the decision to voluntarily withdraw the US accelerated approval for PEPAXTO in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received at least four prior lines of therapy and whose disease is refractory to at least one proteasome inhibitor, one immunomodulatory agent, and one CD38-directed monoclonal antibody. This decision was made following consultation with the U.S. FDA regarding the results of the Phase 3 OCEAN study, which showed an overall survival in the intent-to-treat population with a hazard ratio of 1.104.
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Pfizer Oncology announced on November 30th, 2020, that the FDA approved the 150 mg single-dose vial of TRAZIMERA® (trastuzumab-qyyp). As of March 10th, 2021 this new presentation is now available for commercial sale. TRAZIMERA (trastuzumab-qyyp) is a biosimilar to Herceptin®Ϯ (trastuzumab).
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Foundation Medicine, Inc. announced that the company has signed agreements for in-network provider status with Humana Military and Health Net Federal Services, which administer the TRICARE health program for military members, retirees and their families. Under the new agreements, TRICARE beneficiaries now have improved access to Foundation Medicine’s FDA-approved comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) tests, FoundationOne®CDx and FoundationOne®Liquid CDx, in accordance with their approved indications for all solid tumors.
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Gilead Sciences, Inc. announced it has entered into a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement with to evaluate the efficacy of Gilead’s Trop-2 targeting antibody-drug conjugate Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) in combination with Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab), as a first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
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Sanofi, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness month, has launched a “Do Good initiative” where treatment insights will be gathered from HCPs through a brief survey. Once completed by a breast cancer treating professional, a $50 donation will be made by Sanofi to a patient advocacy group that supports underserved metastatic breast cancer patients. To greater the impact, Sanofi will match the donation made on behalf of the professional, which we believe will deliver more Good & further help underserved breast cancer patients.
Sanofi thank each health care professional who is interested to Do Good together! Please complete the survey and share your treatment insights.
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Premier Alternate Site GPO invites you to their virtual National Meeting, December 2 & 3. With keynote speaker headliner Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, “Miracle on the Hudson” Pilot and Safety Expert, featured session speakers will cover trending topics in four unique tracks: Clinical and Compliance Outcomes, Legislative & Regulatory Updates, Business Management and Operations, and Supply Chain Strategies.
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The Medical Oncology Association of Southern California (MOASC) is a leading oncology society that advances and protects the ability of cancer patients to obtain, and the ability of the oncology physicians to provide, optimal cancer care. The material contained in the California Oncology Weekly is intended as general information for MOASC members. Because diagnostic, treatment, contracting, coding, and billing decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, any such information contained in the California Oncology Weekly may not apply in any given situation. Members are encouraged to contact their own consultants or advisors to obtain specific advice on matters relating to contracting, coding, and billing. The information contained in California Oncology Weekly should not be used as a substitute for such advice. This publication provides a summary of regulations affecting oncology and its business practices. Reading this newsletter does not substitute for understanding regulations and verifying the validity of every claim. This information is time-sensitive and is subject to change. MOASC accepts no liability for any statements or articles herein. CPT codes are owned and trademarked by the American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
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